Method and device for separating a roll of toilet paper

ABSTRACT

A method and a device are provided for separating a roll of toilet paper which has plural tear lines. This invention is aimed to feed the continuous toilet paper into the device, which has a feeding element and a pulling element both provided for driving the paper. The pulling element can drive the toilet paper at a speed quicker than that of the feeding element, so that the toilet paper is pulled apart along the tear lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and device for separating toilet paper and, more particularly, to a method and device for separating a continuous roll of toilet paper which has tear lines arranged thereon.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A device for separating a continuous roll of toilet paper into sections is known. As shown in FIG. 1, the device includes a pair of spaced side frames 90 for rotatably supporting an upper roller 91, a cover 92, a lower roller 93 and a rotary cutter 94. Continuous toilet paper, fed through the gaping between the cover 92 and the upper roller 91, is frictionally driven downward by the two rollers 91 and 93, while a cutting blade 95 of the rotary cutter 94 slides repeatedly over an edge of a metal bar 96 to cut the toilet paper passing through the cutter 94.

[0005] The frequent slide motions of the cutting blade 95 over the edge of the metal bar 96 will make the blade 95 blunt soon. The paper then can not be cut through its full width and the whole device is necessary to be dismantled in order to replace the blunt blade 95.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 2, another known device for separating a continuous roll of toilet paper in sections includes a housing 80 in which two pairs of rollers 81 and 82 are rotatably supported. These rollers 81 and 82 are rotated by driving units 83 at the same speed, but in the opposite directions for the two rollers 81 or 82 in each pair. So the continuous toilet paper 84 can be frictionally driven downward between each pairs of the rollers 81 and 82. However, the lower pair of rollers 82 will be rotated at a quicker speed than that of the upper pair of rollers 81 whenever a detector 86 detects the passing of one of equidistant notches 85 of the running paper 84. The difference in speeds then pulls apart the paper 84 between the two pairs of rollers 81 and 82.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 3, a still another known device for such a purpose includes an upper pair of cylindrical rollers 81 and a lower pair of barrel-type rollers 82, with each pair of rollers 81 or 82 to be rotated by a corresponding driving unit 83. In addition, the toilet paper 84 to be separated has equidistant tear lines 87, as well as notches 85 at ends of the lines 87. When a detector 86 detects the passing of one of the notches 85, the detector 86 will send out a signal that causes the toilet paper 84 between the two pairs of rollers 81 and 82 to be pulled apart along the tear line 87.

[0008] Although the last two devices separate toilet paper without using a cutter, the associated toilet paper is require to be provided with notches, likely in addition to tear lines.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device which separates toilet paper without using a cutter.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device in which associated toilet paper is provided with only tear lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is aimed to feed a continuous toilet paper into a device which has a feeding element and a pulling element both provided for driving the paper. The pulling element can drive the toilet paper at a speed quicker than that of the feeding element, so that the toilet paper is pulled apart along corresponding tear lines.

[0012] Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional device for separating toil paper;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of another conventional device for separating toil paper;

[0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of still another conventional device for separating toil paper;

[0016]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention for separating toil paper;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 4;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 5, showing the toil paper to be pulled apart;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the toil paper pulled apart;

[0020]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive device; and

[0021]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the inventive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] The present invention is now to be described below by way of preferred embodiments of a device according thereto.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a device 3 in accordance with the present invention for separating a large continuous roll of toilet paper 4 into predetermined sections.

[0024] The toilet paper 4 may be made from natural, man-made or synthetic fibers or the like. As clearly shown, the paper 4 has plural tear lines 41 (only one is shown) extended through a width thereof, with a compact area 42 formed, such as by melting or compressing, on both sides of the line 41 to prevent possible separation of the tiny fiber pieces from the separated tear line 41 after the paper section is separated.

[0025] The inventive device 3 includes a feeding element 1 and a pulling element 2. The feeding element 1 has a first roller 11 for driving as well as unreeling the toilet paper 4 from its roll. The first roller 11 is designed to be rotated at a uniform or variable speed directly or indirectly by a driving unit, such as a motor, or to be stopped.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the first roller 11 is selectively driven by a first driving unit 13, through meshing gears 14. As a result, the roller 11 may be rotated at a uniform speed to unreel the paper 4 from the roll and drive the paper 4 downstream when the first driving unit 13 is running, or alternatively, may be stopped when the same unit 13 becomes idle.

[0027] The feeding element 1 may have a press member 12 to ensure the movement of the toilet paper 4 driven by the first roller 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the press member 12 is configured into a curved piece which is biased towards the first roller 11 by a pair of elastic member 15, so as to elastically press the toilet paper 4 onto the roller 11.

[0028] The pulling element 2 is situated under the feeding element 1, or to be precise, in a downstream position relative to the feeding element 1, for the purpose of guiding the toilet paper 4 releasing from the feeding element 1 and driving the paper 4 out of the device 3. In detail, the pulling element 2 has a second roller 21 designed to be rotated at a uniform or variable speed directly or indirectly by a driving unit, such as a motor, or to be stopped.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the second roller 21 is selectively driven by a second driving unit 23, through meshing gears 24, in such a way that the second roller 21 may be rotated at a uniform speed or may be stopped. Accordingly, the second roller 21 drives or stops driving the toilet paper 4 on the roller 21.

[0030] The pulling element 2 may also have a press member 22 to ensure the movement of the toilet paper 4 driven by the second roller 21. The press member 22 may be configured into a curved piece as the press member 12 of the feeding element 1, but preferably into a roller, as shown in FIG. 4. The second roller 21 is rotated by the second driving unit 23 through the meshing gears 24, in a direction opposite to that of the second roller 21.

[0031] The device 3 is provided with a pair of spaced side frames 31 that rotatably support the rollers 11, 12 and 22. In the preferred embodiment, the device 3 further includes two paper feeds 32 positioned over the elements 1 and 2 used to lead the toilet paper 4 to the rollers 11, 21, a spray pipe 33 used to wet the toilet paper 4, and a paper delivery 34 used to lead out separated sections of the paper 4.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, as the toilet paper 4 is unreeled from its roll and runs through the feeding element 1 and the pulling element 2, the paper 4 is pressed onto and frictionally driven by the two rollers 11 and 21, in which the second roller 21 has a tangential velocity quicker than that of the first roller 11. The difference in the tangential velocities of the rollers 11 and 21 results in a tension longitudinally actuated on the paper 4, which, as shown in FIG. 7, is then pulled apart along the tear line 41 as it is moved to a position between the two rollers 1 and 12. The separated section is led out along the delivery 34 and is splashed wet with liquid emitted from the spray pipe, and thus becomes a sheet of wet toilet paper 4. With the roll of paper 4 unreeled continuously, new sheets of wet toilet paper 4 are led out and piled up one above another.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the inventive device 3 is preferably provided with a detector 35, such as of an optical or infrared type, for detecting the passing of the tear line 41 between the rollers 11 and 12. The detector 35 then sends out a signal that increases the difference in the tangential velocities of the rollers 11 and 21 or causes the first roller 11 to stop. Such a signal may also be obtained using a count detect that sends out signals at regular intervals. In this way, the paper 4 between the rollers 11 and 21 will be pulled apart more easily along its tear line 41.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 8, a second embodiment of the inventive device 3 is shown. The device 3 here includes a feeding element 1 having a first roller 11 and a pulling element 21 having a second roller 21, with toilet paper 4 to be unreeled and frictionally driven by the rollers 11 and 21.

[0035] In this embodiment, the second roller 21 is rotated all the way by a driving unit 23 through meshing gears 24, but the first roller 11 is rotated selectively by the same unit 23 through a clutch 36, such as a movable gear 37, that is actuated by means of a electromagnetic-valve 38. The movable gear 37 is normally engaged with the gears 14 and 24 of the elements 1 and 2, and so both the first roller 11 and the second roller 21 can be rotated by the single driving unit 23, at the same tangential velocity or in such a way that the second roller 21 has a tangential velocity quicker than that of the first roller 11.

[0036] When a signal is sent from a detector 35, the movable gear 37 is retracted by the electromagnetic-valve 38 and thus disengaged from the gear 14 of the first roller 11. Because only the second roller 21 is rotated by the driving unit 23 now, the toilet paper 4 between the two elements 1 and 2 is pulled apart along its tear line 41.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 9, a third preferred embodiment of the inventive device 3 is shown now. The inventive device 3 includes a feeding element 1 having a roller 11 rotatably supported by a pair of spaced side frames 31, and the roller 11 is designed to be rotated by a driving unit 13 through meshing gears 14. In the preferred embodiment, the feeding element 1 has a press member 12 to press the toile paper 4 onto the roller 11.

[0038] A pulling element 5 is situated under the feeding element 1, or in a downstream position relative to the feeding element 1. The pulling element 5 may be any apparatus capable of rolling up toilet paper 4. For example, the pulling element 5 may have a rotary belt-type lap former 51 and a board 52, with a spacing 53 between the former 51 and the board 52 to receive the paper 4 coming from the feeding element 1. A length of toilet paper 4 within the spacing 53 will be rolled up by the lap former 51 over the board 52.

[0039] The belt-type lap former 51 rolls up the toilet paper 4 at a speed quicker than the tangential velocity of the roller 11, and so the paper 4 between the elements 1 and 5 is pulled apart along its tear line 41 into separated sections, which is then rolled into small rolls respectively.

[0040] In this preferred embodiment, the device 3 is further provided with a detector 35 for sending out a signal that causes the driving unit 13 to stop rotating the roller 11. Because the pulling element 5 still draws the toilet paper 4, the paper 4 can be pulled apart along its tear line 41 more positively.

[0041] From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention has the advantage of separating the toilet paper without using any cutter. That is, this invention provides a simplified device easy to be assembled and unnecessary to be repaired for the possible failure of the cutter. Moreover, the continuous toilet paper is easy to be made because only the tear lines are required to be formed in it.

[0042] While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for separating a roll of toilet paper into sections, said toilet paper having plural tear lines extended through a width thereof, said method comprising the step of: feeding said toilet paper into a device having a feeding element and a pulling element both provided for driving said toilet paper; and wherein said pulling element may drive said toilet paper at a speed quicker than that of said feeding element, so that said toilet paper may be pulled apart along said tear lines.
 2. A device for separating a roll of toilet paper into sections, said toilet paper having plural tear lines extended through a width thereof, said device comprising: a feeding element having a first roller; a pulling element having a second roller; and wherein said second roller may have a tangential velocity quicker than that of said first roller so that said toilet paper is pulled apart along said tear lines into separated sections when being frictionally driven by said first and second rollers.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said feeding element and said pulling element have respective driving units to rotate said rollers.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 3 further including a detector for sending out a signal to cause said first roller of said feeding element to stop rotation.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 2 further including a single driving unit to selectively rotate said rollers.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 further including a detector for sending out a signal to cause said driving unit to rotate both of said rollers and another signal to cause said driving unit to rotate only said second roller.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said feeding element further includes a press member for pressing said toilet paper onto said first roller.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said press member is biased towards said first roller by an elastic member.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said press member is configured into a roller.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pulling element further includes a press member for pressing said toilet paper onto said second roller.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said press member is biased towards said second roller by an elastic member.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said press member is configured into a roller.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said feeding element and said pulling element have respective paper feeds to lead said toilet paper to said rollers.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 2 further including a spray pipe used to wet said toilet paper.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 2 further including a paper delivery used to lead out separated sections of said toilet paper.
 16. A device for separating toilet paper into sections, said toilet paper having tear lines extended through a width thereof, said device comprising: a feeding element having a roller for frictionally driving said toilet paper; a pulling element having a belt-type lap former and a board spaced from said lap formed by a certain spacing, said lap former and said board being provided for rolling up said toilet paper between said spacing; and wherein said lap former may roll up said toilet paper at a speed quicker than the tangential velocity of said roller, so that said toilet paper is pulled apart along said tear lines into separated sections and is rolled into small rolls.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 16 further including a detector for sending out a signal to cause said lap former to roll up said toilet paper at a speed quicker than the tangential velocity of said roller.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said detector may send out an additional signal to cause said roller of said feeding element to stop rotation. 